14 Answers

Yes, if you don’t tag it in your name and pay the appropriate taxes it is called ‘title-jumping’ and is illegal in most states. And the new owner often get busted at the license office and are stuck with a car they can’t register. Your daughter could get in real trouble if she does that. Why don’t you just sell it directly to those people and keep her safe?

You can title a car in your name without getting a tag. Depending on what state you live in that could save you some money. Also stating it is a gift to your daughter will stop her from paying sales tax. You don’t say, but I assume it is a gift. If you elect to get a tag for it you will most likely be required to show it is insured.

I’ve had cars that weren’t registered to me, but that I went through the state to get the title for. Registration isn’t important, but legal ownership and paying all appropriate fees/taxes on transferring ownership is.